A61B2017/0647—Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue having one single leg, e.g. tacks

Abstract

An apparatus for repairing a wound in soft tissue includes an introducer
trocar with a sharpened distal end and a hollow lumen. An elongated pin has a
distal end, a proximal end and a central section. The pin is formed of
compacted, hydrophilic, cross-linked collagen and introduced into the hollow
lumen in a non-deployed state. An advancement member includes a distal end
and is at least partially positioned in the hollow lumen. The advancement
member advances the elongated pin out of the introducer trocar distal end and
into a soft tissue structure in the pin's non-deployed state and across a wound in
the soft tissue structure. The pin becomes deployed to a deployed state when
the collagen in the pin begins to hydrolyze, anchoring the pin and the wound so
that the wound can be healed quickly. This produces a maintenance of
position for two non-continuous bodies of soft tissue relative to each other. The
non-continuity may be the result of a wound, laceration, cut or tear in
contiguous soft tissue or at a location where approximation and joining of two
discontinuous soft tissue structures is desirable.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention

[0001]

This invention relates generally an apparatus and method for repairing
discontinuous bodies in soft tissue, and more particularly to an apparatus and
method which utilizes a pin initially made of compacted, hydrophilic cross-linked
collagen which upon hydrolysis in the soft tissue becomes expanded and
anchored.

Description of Related Art

[0002]

Collagen is the major protein component of bone, cartilage, skin and
connective tissue in animals. Collagen in its native form is typically a rigid,
rod-shaped molecule approximately 300 nm long and 1.5 nm in diameter. It is
composed of three collagen polypeptide which form a tight triple helix. The
collagen polypeptide are characterized by a long midsection having repeating
sequence Gly-X-Y-, where X and Y are often telopeptide regions, which
constitute less than about 5% of the molecule. The telopeptide regions of the
collagen chains are typically responsible for the cross-linking between chains,
and for the immunogenicity of the protein. Collagen occurs in several "types",
having differing physical properties. The most abundant types are Types I, II
and III. Type I is the major portion of both soft and hard connective tissue.
Type II collagen is the major collagen of cartilage. type III is found in blood
vessels, fetal membranes and wounds.

[0003]

Injectable bovine collagen has been marketed for soft tissue
augmentation since the early 1980's. This collagen is derived from bovine hide
and is prepared by solubilizing the hide in acid, proteolytically digesting the
soluble collagen to remove telopeptides, and purifying the atelopeptide
collagen. The collagen is subsequently sterilized by submicron filtration and
then reconstituted. Two forms of this collagen, one uncross-linked and the
other lightly cross-linked, are currently marketed under the trademarks
ZYDERM and ZYPLAST, respectively. Both forms comprise about 95% type I
collagen and 5% type III collagen.

[0004]

The use of collagen compositions for tissue repair and augmentation is
known. The collagen may be utilized in a variety of forms, including cross-linked
and non-cross-linked fibrillar collagens, gelatins, and the like, and may
be combined with various other components, such as lubricants, osteogenic
factors, ceramic particles, and the like, depending on the intended use. For soft
tissue repair, suspensions of fibrillar collagen have often been used by injecting
the composition to a treatment site through a fine gauge needle. For bone and
hard tissue repair, fibrillar collagens have been combined with ceramic powders,
such as hydroxyapatite and other calcium phosphates.

[0005]

Collagen is typically isolated from natural sources, such as bovine hide,
cartilage or bones. Bones are usually dried, defatted, crushed and demineralized
to extract collagen, while hide and cartilage are usually minced and digested
with proteolytic enzymes, other than collagenase. As collagen is resistant to
most proteolytic enzymes, this procedure conveniently serves to remove most of
the contaminating protein found with collagen. Collagen may be denaturized by
boiling, which produces the familiar product gelatin.

[0006]

Human collagen has been proposed as a biomaterial for numerous
indications, including soft tissue augmentation. Human collagen has the
advantage of being less immunogenic than bovine-derived collagen. it has the
disadvantage of requiring additional processing steps to ensure the elimination
of human pathogens such as viruses.

[0007]

The treatment of discontinuous bodies in soft tissue, such as a tear in the
meniscus of the knee has previously involved primary surgical repair using
arthroscopy. In the meniscus, the surgical repair technique requires the passage
of sutures and surgical needles through the knee capsule which are tied
externally. There are a number of drawbacks to this procedure, including the
need for an accessory incision in the back of the knee potential injury to the
nerves and blood vessels by passing the needle through the knee as well as the
additional time and advanced skills required.

[0008]

A need exists for a collagen pin for soft tissue repair. There is a further
need for a collagen pin that is inserted in soft tissue, becomes anchored in the
soft tissue in order retain a wound in the soil tissue in a fixed position and
permit anastomosis to occur across the wound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009]

Accordingly, it would also be desirable to provide an
apparatus for soft tissue repair that includes a collagen pin.

[0010]

It would also be desirable to provide an apparatus for
repairing a wound in soft tissue which introduces one or more collagen pins
across a wound in soft tissue.

[0011]

It would also be desirable to provide an apparatus for
repairing a wound in soft tissue with one or more collagen pins, where each
collagen pin has a central section and proximal and distal ends which have
larger cross-sectional dimensions thin the cross-section of the central section.

[0012]

It would also be desirable to provide an apparatus for
repairing a wound in soft tissue with one or more dry, cross-linked collagen
pins.

[0013]

It would also be desirable to provide an apparatus for
repairing wounds in soft tissue with one or more collagen pins that are
positioned across the wound, effecting an anchoring of the wound so that it
heals.

[0014]

It would also be desirable to provide a method for
repairing a wound in soft tissue by inserting a collagen pin across the wound.

[0015]

It would also be desirable to provide a method for repairing a wound in
the meniscus of the knee by positioning one or more collagen pins across the
wound.

[0016]

Aspects of the invention are defined in the claims.

[0017]

In one particular aspect, the present invention provides an
apparatus for repairing a wound in soft tissue which includes an introducer
trocar with a sharpened distal end and a hollow lumen. An elongated pin has a
distal end a proximal end and a central section. The pin is formed of
compacted, hydrophilic, cross-linked collagen and introduced into the hollow
lumen in a non-deployed state. An advancement member includes a distal end
and is at least partially positioned in the hollow lumen. The advancement
member advances the elongated pin out of the introducer trocar distal end and
into a soft tissue structure in the pin's non-deployed state and across a wound in
the soft tissue structure. The pin becomes deployed to a deployed state when
the collagen in the pin begins to hydrolyze, anchoring the pin and the wound so
that the wound can be healed quickly.

[0018]

The present invention also provides a method of repairing a wound in
collagen soft tissue. A pin made of compressed collagen in a non-deployed
state with a proximal end, a distal end, and a central section is provided and
introduced into a selected soft tissue site. The pin is advanced in the soft tissue
to a position where the pin's distal end is on a first side of the wound, the pin's
proximal end is on a second side of the wound and the pin's central section
extends across the wound. The pin is expanded in the soft tissue to a deployed
state and the pins's distal and proximal ends become anchored in the soft tissue.

[0019]

The pin's distal and proximal ends preferably have larger cross-sectional
diameters than a diameter of the pin's central section. The pin is made of a
compacted, rolled sheet of hydrophilic collagen. Each end of the pin can have a
different geometry including but not limited to cylindrical, conical and the like.
Additionally, the pin's distal end proximal ends can have different geometric
configurations and sizes.

[0020]

The apparatus of the present invention can be used to repair a wound in a
variety of different soft tissues, including but not limited to the meniscus of the
knee.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0021]

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a soft tissue fixation pin apparatus.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an actuator used with the apparatus of
Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a distal end of the soft tissue
fixation pin in an embodiment that includes a flexible tip.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the collagen pin of the apparatus of
Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a collagen pin with a central lumen.

Figures 6(a) through 6(c) illustrate a thin layer of collagen that is rolled
together to form the collagen pin.

Figures 7(a) through 7(h) illustrate a production process for forming
the pin of Fig. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022]

For purposes of this specification, a wound is defined to include a
wound, cut, laceration or area between two discontinuous bodies in tissue.
Hydrophilic, cross-linked collagen is dry enough so that when it is introduced to
a desired tissue site in a non-deployed configuration, it begins to hydrolyze,
expands and then anchors in the tissue site. The degree of hydrophilic behavior
is dependent on the application, the tissue site and the degree of deployment
desired. The present invention is suitable for use with a variety of wounds
including but not limited to repairs of the knee meniscus. In the setting of the
meniscus, heating is promoted because the body of the pin traverses the non-vascularized
"white" portion of the meniscus and extends in to the "pink"
portion which is increasingly vascularized as you proceed laterally.
Establishing a communicating channel between these two zones allows for the
flow of serous fluids from the vascularized pink section to the non-vascularized
white section which promotes heating of the lesion .1 The collagen pin acts as a
wick for the fluids and continuously reestablishes the channel as it is reabsorbed
by the body.

[0023]

This pin could also be a rolled web matrix and a hollow cone that would
communicate these fluids down the central core and allow passage of serous
fluids through the walls.

[0024]

Referring now to Figure 1, a soft tissue fixation pin apparatus 10
includes an introducer trocar 12 with a hollow lumen. An elongated pin 14 with
a distal end 14', a proximal end 14'' and a central section 14''' is positioned in the
hollow lumen. Pin 14 is formed of hydrophilic, cross-linked collagen and
introduced into the hollow lumen in a non-deployed state. An advancement
member 16 has a distal end 16' that is at least partially positioned in the hollow
lumen. Advancement member 16 advances elongated pin 14, in a non-deployed
state, out of introducer trocar 12 into a soft tissue and across two discontiguous
structures in the soft tissue, including but not limited to a wound, cut, tear,
laceration, two discontinuous tissue section, and the like, hereafter collectively
referred to as a ("wound"). Upon hydrolysis after insertion to the desired
wound, pin 14 is in an enlarged deployed state. The hydrolyzed collagen
becomes anchored in the soft tissue resulting in pin 14 and the wound becoming
anchored. When the wound is anchored the wound is substantially
immobilized and the healing can then proceed in a quicker fashion.

[0025]

Distal end 12' of introducer trocar 12 can have a sharpened tip in order to
be inserted into the soft tissue. As illustrated in Figure 2, apparatus 10 can
further include a flexible tip 18 which may be an integral or connectable
element of introducer trocar 12. Flexible tip 18 may be oriented in a desired
direction of the wound under treatment after insertion into the soft tissue. Pin
14 is positioned in flexible tip 18 and is driven out of distal end 12' by actuator
16. Actuator 16 is operated outside of the soft tissue.

[0026]

Referring now to Figure 3. flexible tip 18 is distal end 12' of introducer
trocar 12 which includes the hollow lumen. Actuator 16 extends through the
lumen. Actuator 16 may also have a central lumen through which a guide wire
or needle 20 extends. Needle 20 can be utilized to introduce a variety of
different materials into a lumen formed in pin 14, as more fully explained
hereafter. A distal end of guide wire 20 pushes against pin 14 in order to
advance its movement out of introducer trocar 12.

[0027]

Actuator 16 can include a pair of scissors arms which pivot and advance
a body of actuator 16. further, actuator 16 may include a plunger which is in
direct mechanical contact with the body of actuator 16.

[0028]

As illustrated in Figure 4, pin 14 includes a distal end 14', a proximal
end 14'' and a central section 14'''. In one embodiment, distal and proximal ends
14' and 14'' have larger cross-section diameters than central section 14'''. In
another embodiment the cross-section diameters are all the same size. Still in a
further embodiment, distal and proximal ends 14' and 14'' do not have the same
cross-section diameters, but each is still larger than the cross-section diameter of
central section 14'''. As shown in Figure 4 distal and proximal ends 14' and 14''
have cylindrical geometric configurations. Other geometric configurations are
possible including but not limited to conical, irregular shapes, rectangular, cubic
and the like. Distal and proximal ends 14' and 14'' may have the same or
different geometric configurations.

[0029]

Referring now to Figure 5, pin 14 can include a central lumen 14''''
which provides access through a needle to inject liquid collagen or other
hydraulic agent to expand pin 14 segmentally after softening. Central lumen
14'''' need not extend to distal and proximal ends 14' and 14''. Additionally,
central lumen 14'''' may be hollow to promote the incursion of serous fluids
across the length of the channel. A central core of pin 14 can be composed of
an absorbable material with different tensile properties for improved strength, in
order to impact greater longitudinal sheer strength a core pin of another
material, i.e., PGA or some other bio-absorbable yet not hydrophilic material
could be used as the central core to prevent shearing of the pin across its length.

[0030]

The operation of soft tissue fixation pin apparatus 10 is now discussed as
it is used for the repair of the knee meniscus. It will be appreciated, however,
that the present invention is not limited to the knee meniscus. In operation
distal end 12' is advanced into the knee and across the two segments of the
meniscus. Pin 14 is then advanced out of introducer trocar 12 while introducer
trocar 12 is retracted from the surgical site. Additionally, pin 14 can be
introduced across the wound once introducer trocar 12 has been removed.

[0031]

When a guidewire or needle is included, distal end 12' or flexible tip 18
is inserted into the central portion of a patient's knee. Guidewire 20 or distal
end 12' crosses the meniscal wound under treatment and forms a channel for pin
14. Pin 14 is then driven across the wound in a non-deployed, compacted state.

[0032]

Pin 14 is introduced into the selected tissue site. A distal end 14' of pin
14 is at a first side of a wound and a proximal end 14'' is on a second side of the
wound. Central section 14''' extends across the wound. Pin 14 then becomes
expanded in the soft tissue to a deployed state when the collagen begins to
hydrolyze. Distal and proximal ends 14' and 14'' become anchored in the soft
tissue. This retains the wound so that its two sides become immobilized.

[0033]

As illustrated in Figures 6(a) through 6(c), in one embodiment of the
invention the dried collagen may be presented in a rolled configuration.

[0034]

Figure 6A shows the configuration of a film or sheet of collagen around
a PGA stem or core that is the rolled up tight in its dry form. When exposed to
the fluids in the joint and the ends with their greater mass of hydrophilic
material (collagen) will expand to a much greater degree than the central shaft
thereby creating a mechanical grip forcing the material on either side of the
defect to remain together.

[0035]

Biocompatible human or bovine derived collagen can be used to make
pin 14. Suitable collagen compositions with cross-linking agents are disclosed
in U.S. Patent No. 4,061,787, incorporated herein by reference. Cross-linked
compositions for the pin 14 may be in the form of a dehydrated particulate
material. A method for making dry collagen is disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
4,442,655, incorporated herein by reference.

[0036]

The collagen used to make pin 14 may be mixed with minerals, bone
marrow or other particulate materials for use in hard tissue augmentation repair,
including but not limited to bone, cartilage or dental repair, as described in U.S.
Patents Nos. 4,743,229; 4,776,890; 4,775,467; 4,774,227; and 4,789,663, all
incorporated herein by reference. In one embodiment, the collagen utilized is
human collagen.

[0037]

Referring to Figs 7(a) through 7(h) the pin of Fig. 4 may be produced
by a process which includes: folding over peripheral edge portions of a generally
planar piece of collagen (Figs. 7(a)-(d)); and rolling the collagen material in a
direction generally perpendicular to the direction of the above folds (Figs. 7(e)-(g)).
Fig 7(h) illustrates a cross-section through the rolled structure of Fig. 7(g), with
more material in an end region generated by the initial folds.

[0038]

The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention
has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not
intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms
disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to
practitioners skilled in this art. It is intended that the scope of the invention be
defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims (25)

Soft tissue fixation pin apparatus, comprising:

an introducer trocar with a hollow lumen;

an elongated pin having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central section, the
pin being made at least partly of, or containing, collagen and being introducable in a
non-deployed state through the hollow lumen; and

an advancement member positionable at least partly within the hollow lumen,
wherein, in use, the advancement member is operative to advance the elongated pin out
of the introducer trocar distal end and into a soft tissue structure in the pin's non-deployed
state and across a wound in the soft tissue structure, and wherein the pin
deploys to a deployed state by hydrolysation of the collagen.

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the deployed state, first and second
portions of the pin are expanded.

A pin for fixation of a wound in soft tissue, the pin having a distal end, a
proximal end and a central section, and the pin being at least partly of, or containing,
collagen and being configured such that, upon insertion into soft tissue, first and
second portions of the pin expand by hydrolysation, thereby to anchor the pin in the
tissue.

Apparatus or a pin according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first and second
portions are the distal and proximal ends of the pin.

Apparatus or a pin according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the collagen is
cross-linked collagen.

Apparatus or a pin according to any preceding claim, wherein the collagen is
hydrophilic collagen.

Apparatus or a pin according to any preceding claim, wherein the collagen is in
compressed form.

Apparatus or a pin according to any preceding claim, wherein the distal and
proximal ends each have a respective cross-sectional dimension larger than that of the
pin's central section.

Apparatus or a pin according to any preceding claim, wherein the pin is made at
least partly of compacted rolled sheet hydrophilic collagen.

Apparatus or a pin according to any preceding claim, wherein the pin's distal
and proximal ends each have a cylindrical geometric configuration.

Apparatus or a pin according to any preceding claim, wherein the pin's distal
and proximal ends each have a conical geometric configuration.

Apparatus or a pin according to any preceding claim, wherein the pin's distal
and proximal ends have different geometric configurations.

Apparatus or a pin according to any preceding claim, wherein the pin's distal
and proximal ends are substantially the same size.

Apparatus or a pin according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the pin's distal
and proximal ends are of different sizes.

Apparatus or a pin according to any preceding claim, wherein the greatest
cross-sectional dimension of the pin in its non-deployed state is not substantially greater
than 4 Fr.

Apparatus or a pin according to any preceding claim, wherein the greatest
cross-sectional dimension of the pin in its non-deployed state is between 0.4 and 0.06
inches.

Apparatus or a pin according to any preceding claim, wherein the density of the
collagen is less in the central section than in either of the proximal and distal ends.

Apparatus or a pin according to any preceding claim, wherein the pin comprises
a lumen made of an absorbable material that has a different tensile property from a
remainder of the pin.

A hydrolysable soft tissue fixation pin, the pin comprising or containing
hydrophilic cross-linked collagen, and being configured such that, upon hydrolysation,
first and second anchor portions of the pin expand by a greater amount and/or to a
greater size, than an intermediate third portion between the first and second portions.

hydrolysing the collagen in the pin to expand first and second anchor portions
of the pin by a greater amount and/or to a greater size, than a third intermediate
portion between the first and second portions.

A method according to claim 20, wherein the collagen is hydrophilic cross-linked
collagen.

A method according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the collagen is in compressed
form in the pin.

A method according to claim 20, 21 or 22, wherein the step of hydrolysing
comprises exposing the pin to fluid.

A method according to claim 20, 21, 22 or 23, further comprising positioning
the pin using a trocar prior to the step of hydrolysation.

A method of repairing a wound in a soft tissue site, comprising:

providing a pin made of compressed collagen in a non-deployed state with a
proximal end, a distal end, and a central section;

introducing the pin into a selected soft tissue site;

advancing the pin in the soft tissue to a position where the pin's distal end is on
a first side of the wound, the pin's proximal end is on a second side of the wound and
the pin's central section extends across the wound;